It actually kind of freaked me out the first time I realized how much these nyt crossword answers sites collect data. It’s not just about which puzzle you check, but like, everything—stuff you search for, forms you fill out, maybe combining it with what you do on other apps, too. Then suddenly you’re seeing ads for random things they think you’ll buy, all because you looked up a crossword answer.

Honestly, I try to use incognito mode or a blocker, but I know my info is still out there. NYT itself works with more than a hundred ad partners, so it’s not just small blogs—it’s a big thing. I don’t super like it, but at least I know why I get those weird ads now. My advice: don’t put sensitive info on those sites, and if you’re worried, use some privacy settings or just check the clues in a puzzle book if you want to stay off the grid!